Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2012
403 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the assessment and reporting mechanism she has put in place to enable Departments to continually assess the business case for the State bodies under their aegis. [4560/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department.
The Citizens Information Board
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to members of the public on a wide range of public and social services. Since July 2009, the Board has had responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).
The Department monitors and assesses the role of the CIB on a continuous basis to ensure that it is delivering its services in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation. The Department is represented on the Board and on its finance and audit committees. The CIB submits monthly financial reports to the Department and regular meetings are held between officials of my Department and the senior management of the CIB.
The CIB is required to produce a Strategic Plan and an Annual Report, which must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition the Chief Executive Officer is required to report to Dáil Éireann on all matters pertaining to the expenditure of the Board.
Pensions Board
The Pensions Board is a regulatory body and the statutory role of the Board is to monitor and supervise the operation of the Pensions Act 1990 (as amended). The Board reports to my Department on a day to day basis through general reporting structures and its work and administrative structures are monitored through regular communications between my Department and the Board.
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
The Pensions Ombudsman is a statutory office established in 2002 to investigate complaints of financial loss due to maladministration and disputes of fact or law in relation to occupational pension schemes and personal retirement savings accounts (PRSAs). The Pensions Ombudsman is independent in the performance of these functions and acts as an impartial adjudicator. At present, staffing levels consist of the Pensions Ombudsman and nine other staff. Central support services in relation to salaries and accounts are provided by the Department.
Salaries and accounts are monitored under the general reporting structures of my Department. Its administrative structures are monitored through regular communications between my Department and the Board.
In the report on Public Service Reform, the proposed amalgamation of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator, and the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman are subject to a critical review to be completed by the end of June 2012. No decision will be made on rationalisation until this review is complete.
The Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body established in 1982 to deal with cases where entitlement to jobseeker's benefit or assistance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute. The Tribunal consists of a Chairman and four ordinary members.
The body does not have a day to day operating function and its sole purpose is to adjudicate cases where entitlement to a Jobseekers payment is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute. Referrals to the tribunal are very infrequent and no such referrals have occurred for over a year.
I am satisfied that these mechanisms, including the reviews referred to, ensure that the appropriate arrangements are in place with regard to the State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.
404 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the projected savings for each State agency to be rationalised as set out in the recent public service reform plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4568/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report on Public Service Reform proposes the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. These proposed rationalisations are the subject of a critical review which is to be completed by the end of June 2012. This review will include identifying any potential savings arising from such an amalgamation. No decision will be made on rationalisation until this review is complete.
